Tallong R.F.S. News

This is the first of a series of articles aimed at local residents interested in the activities of their village Fire Service.

Currently the Tallong Brigade is equipped with two Category 1 tankers and a Category 17 Long Wheelbase Landrover. The Cat Is are Isuzu four wheel drive trucks weighing in at over 13 tonnes with full 3600 litre water tanks. Their call signs are "Tallong One Alpha" and "Tallong One Bravo" and although, they look big and bulky, they are, in fact, surprisingly agile, and happily negotiate quite amazing inclines and obstacles. Some of our members recently experienced these capabilities during a Rural Fire Driver's Course over Mount Marulan and the Cookbundoons, details of which will be the subject of a later issue. The Rural Fire Service Continually updates its fleet and equipment and later this year "One Bravo" will depart Tallong to be replaced by a more modern unit.

The Cat 17 is usually crewed by the Brigade Captain and up to three volunteer Firies, and is used as a fast response and reconnaissance vehicle; it carries a useful 1500 litres of water and like its big Cat 1 brothers is equipped with Garmin GPS, VHF, and UHF communications.

The Cat 1 tanker is outfitted with crew "Fire Over-run" protection systems, 20 and 38mm diameter hoses and fittings and comprehensive first aid supplies including "Packer Whackers" (Defibrillators). Hopefully the brigade will never have to use them, but as we respond to more and more MVAs, (Motor Vehicle Accidents.) it's comforting to know they are on board. Interestingly, personnel using the de-fibs are guided          though their operation by recorded voice instructions activated by the kit opening. Also residing in each vehicle is another piece of equipment hopefully never

required..... "Trauma Teddy".

Another useful feature of the Cat 1 tanker is its ability to replenish a second tanker while that vehicle is engaged in fighting a fire. The replenishing truck connects a 65mm diameter hose from its own outlet to an inlet in the belly of the fire fighting Cat 1 and engages its diesel pump. Within three minutes it has transferred its contents to the other vehicle, effectively doubling its capacity and ensuring that the first truck can continue fire fighting without the need to break off the engagement and drive to a re-filling point.

The Tallong Brigade Fire Trucks routinely re-fill from the "Painted Pot" reservoir opposite the Memorial Drive Fire shed, but often during a practice drill will travel to the Highland Way viaduct and simply 'snort' from, Barber's Creek.

This first article has probably been all about big red trucks and big boy's toys, but later issues will highlight the training, incident reports, and personalities telling their own stories. We think it's interesting and hopefully the readers of the Tallong Community 'Focus Group will gain some insight into the operations and the people involved in the Tallong Rural Fire Brigade.

Chris Boland            President TRFS.

Newsletter June 2011

Apple Day 2011

Wow! What a great day we had this year. The crowds were the biggest yet and we have had lots of positive feedback from the community & from visitors. The Focus Group has distributed the funds raised on the day to the groups in our community who make the day possible. We have kept some aside to pay our insurance which covers the Focus Group for all of the events and projects that it holds each year such as Apple Day, the Christmas Party and Cleanup Australia day.

The winners of the Focus Group Raffle were, 1^st: Ray Rippon, 2^nd: Rebecca Donaldson and 3^rd: Julie Koerner. We would like to thank our many sponsors for their generosity.

The winners of the Photo Competition were, Samuel Gilson, Rebecca Smith, Jodie Mathews and Aleisha Judge. Highly commended were Ashley Smith & Sarah Gilson.

The winners of the Bake-off were, Lorraine Morris, Margaret Morris, Rob McDonald, Margaret Botticchio, Miriam Lockwood, Alex

McDonald & Susan Lund. Lorraine Morris was the Grand Champion.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Apple Day Committee members and the many volunteers who gave their time on Apple Day. Your contribution makes the day run smoothly and effortlessly.

 

Focus Group Noticeboard

Tallong Community Focus Group now has its own noticeboard at the Tallong General Store.  Have a look and see what is happening.  All coming events will be posted here as well as on our website www.tallong.com.au

Tallong Public School News

Tallong Public School now has a permanent Principal. After many months in the role of acting Principal, Sue Mathews has been appointed to the position permanently. Congratulations Sue.

On Thursday 19^th May, members of the Tallong Community Focus Group committee were treated to most impressive Power Point presentations by the primary class members at Tallong Public School on research they had done on fauna found in the district.

The before School Care Breakfast Club has been up and running since the beginning of

Term 2 with between 4 and 7 children making use of it on various days during the week.

This is a school-initiated activity to help working parents who may find it difficult to get to work by 9am if they cannot drop their children at school before 8.30 which is the time that teachers officially assume play-ground duty. Having breakfast at school is also intended to make getting out the door that much easier in the morning!

However, more volunteers are still needed to ease the load. If you can spare about 50 minutes, between 7.50am and 8.40am once a fortnight, the school office would like to hear from you. So far the only day fully covered is Tuesday, and the rest only by volunteers working weekly or more often (thank you Faye, Dianne and Chrissie!). The job is easy – putting out cereal, pouring juice, making toast and washing up; the children are delightful and polite and there is always a teacher on site if there should be any problems. The aim is to have 2 volunteers on each day and a roster large enough to allow for illness or holidays away. Please help if you can.

The Mystery Remains

 At Apple Day, an unknown boy’s photo, discovered in a box on the stage of the Memorial Hall (see above) was displayed in the hope that somebody could identify him. Several people commented that they thought he looked like Jim Watling and suggested he be approached.

Jim and Fran have now looked at the item and are convinced that he is no one they know and definitely not a member of the Watling family. So the mystery remains! Any other suggestions will be gratefully received.

 

St Stephens Church

St Stephens’s church now has a cross on the exterior. It has been a long time coming but now thanks to the efforts of our local signwriter and parishioner, Alan Weston, the finishing touch has been applied.

The Apple Day Committee would like to thank all of our local sponsors:

 M&M Earthworks for sponsorship of the Photo Comp and some last miute repair work in the Park

Tallong General Store for their support with the promotion of Apple Day

Marulan Rural Supplies for sponsorship and a loan of straw bales for the archery

Marulan Newsagency for sponsorship of the Bake-off

Alan Weston Signs for all of our signs and banners

Hair by Rhonda, Sue Jones and Nerida Tipping for sponsorship of the raffle

Please support these businesses as they have supported us

Tallong Streetscape Volunteer Group

A Proposal to Form a “Tallong Streetscape Volunteer Group”

Proposal to Residents of Tallong

The TCFG are looking for expressions of interest from Tallong residents who might be interested in being part of a volunteer group to enhance the streetscape of the Tallong Village area by carrying out tasks outside of the Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s (GMC) scope of works. The group would operate under the auspices of the GMC and by the guidelines as set in the GMC Volunteers Handbook.

Scope of the Proposed Streetscape Volunteer Group

GMC have a scope of works for the Tallong area that is based on their ability to provide streetscape maintenance services within the confines of their budget.

From a maintenance perspective the Group would enhance the work of the GMC. i.e. edging of footpaths, weeding of public areas, whipper snipping of roadside verges within the Village boundaries, cleaning up of rubbish, pruning of shrubs along verges, removal of new growth trees, maintenance of the Memorial in the Park, maintenance around the “pot” and assistance to the elderly with maintenance of the nature strip in front of their homes.

The Group could also carry out projects to visually enhance areas of the Village eg. Doing something with the corner of Caoura Rd and the Highland Way such as maybe a stone wall with a Tallong Sign and/or some garden beds and improved handrails on the two sets of stairs.

What will GMC do for the Group

With Respect to Volunteers

·         A volunteer induction to overview: roles & responsibilities of Volunteers & Council, Code of Conduct & OH&S Policy & Procedures, Hazard Reporting, Emergency Procedures, First Aid Provisions, Accident/Injury Insurance Provisions & Council Policies & Procedures that apply to Volunteers.

·         Some one-off tasks requiring heavy equipment that would then allow the group to maintain an area.

·         Risk Assessments to enable tasks to be carried out with safety.

·         Provisions for the occasional Volunteer BBQ.

With Respect of Materials

·         Mulch for weed suppression.

·         Plants for revegetation & garden area creation.

·         Temporary safety signage

·         Loan of specialised equipment (following adequate training)

What will the Tallong Community Focus Group do for the Streetscape Group

The TCFG will provide:

·         The organisation of the Group.

·         The liaison with the GMC.

·         Work schedules.

·         Any required Safety Apparel.

·         A post working bee BBQ.

What You Need to Provide to the Group

A commitment to the Group with respect of:

·         Giving of your time.

·         Adherence to safe work rules & procedures.

·         Adherence to the guidelines of GMC’s Volunteer Handbook.

A Philosophy for the Group

·         To enjoy ourselves

·         To improve our knowledge of our community & our Council

·         To feel that we have achieved something for our community

·         To make each working bee a social occasion, some work and some relaxation!

This is an opportunity to take part in a community activity with no meetings, no pressure to be there every time, a great sense of achievement and finish off with a sausage or two.